Inaugural MWS Uncommon Dialogue on Poverty in Singapore

On the streets of Singapore, one of the most affluent cities in the world, we rarely see beggars or the homeless sleeping or scavenging bins for food. Many may think that poverty is not a big problem and only affects a minority. Diving in a little deeper, is poverty only about a lack of money? 

On 20 October 2023, MWS held the inaugural Uncommon Dialogue, where esteemed panellists weighed in on the subject of From Intergenerational Poverty to Mobility. 

Over 160 guests including donors, corporate leaders and representatives from Methodist churches and schools attended the event where Assoc Prof Walter Theseira (Singapore University of Social Sciences), Dr Mathew Mathews (Institute of Policy Studies, National University of Singapore) and Dr Dennis Chia (Healthcare Services Group Director, Methodist Welfare Services) discussed what poverty in Singapore may look like, why some families continue to be trapped in a poverty cycle, whether meritocracy is ‘broken’ and the role which charities and community may play. 

Mr Christopher Tan, CEO of Providend Ltd, also spoke on A Different Stewardship. 

Look out for more details in upcoming issues of Uncommon Voices as we distil and share key takeaways from the event, on the issue of poverty in Singapore.